Plant Notebook | NZ Natives | Roses | Garden Style | Vegetables | Garden Events | Kids Pages | A-Z Index Autumn is not all about the tidy up in preparation for winter. There is lots to do!! In the south sow sweet peas for a spring flowering and a bit later in the milder climates further north. Autumn is a time to take semi-hardwood cuttings - roses and perenials such as penstemons. Also time to give the penstemons a light trim before winter in the south (save the hard cut down until they start to make growth in the spring). Taking cuttings is a great way to save money and gives great satisfaction. The famous Vita Sackville-West planted her white garden mainly from her own cuttings and propogation . Autumn is also bulb buying time. The bulb catalogues are appearing in our mailboxes and narcissi, hyacinths, snow drops and tulips fill the pages. You could try something different - Gloriosa superba grows in the warmer climates, nomocharis aperta (Liliaceae) is an alpine plant for colder climates, foxtail lily (eremurus) loves dry climates, and there are also Lilium martagon (Turkscap lily), alliums, or the wonderful fritillaries. Sedums provide great autumn colour (not to mention late food for the bees) and of course there are many trees and shrubs. Remember to take your pen and pad out during the season and make a list of where colour is needed or what can be improved in your garden. Happy gardening Practical Gardening Cage gardening Pests in the vege garden have made one gardener re think. A large 'cage' has been built to keep out the rabbits and possums. Other side benefits were found - the weather effects were modified, fewer white butterflies and the cat didn't dig up the seedlings! Try this link Stuff for Kids Succulents grown in a container are a great project for kids. They can design their own pattern, are easy to grow and often 'acquired' at little cost. They are fun and can look great on the deck as well. See our Kids pages for projects. Garden Inspiration Xanthe White's Award Winning Ellerslie Garden Ellerslie rose from the rubble of the earthquake to an enthusiatic gardening public where it was all about "flowers, colour and design". With almost 90 horticultural exhibits there was plenty to see. Design elements included demolition materials, recycling and the whimsical. There was a strong emphasis on sustainability and naturalistic plantings. There were good take home ideas from the emerging designers. See our review of Ellerslie 2012. Garden How-To Plant pests are something that our border controls are very strict about, with good reason. You may unwittingly introduce a virus, insect pests, disease or even the seeds of another plant with your plant treasure. Make yourself familar with the list in the Plant Pest Accord . Roses Rose of the Month R. ‘Mrs Oakley Fisher’ Elegant, single flowers of warm apricot with a cluster of golden stamens and a delicious scent to boot, ‘Mrs Oakley Fisher’ is irresistible. In autumn, these warm tones work wonderfully well with the autumnal colours and stand out when pastel pinks seem drear and mucky. The flowers come in generous clusters and contrast well with healthy foliage of a good dark green. The stems are reddish, adding to the picture. Said to be variously a hybrid tea and a modern shrub ‘Mrs Oakley Fisher’ is definitely worthy of garden space. Look at the end of a story to share gardening inspiration with others. Tell a friend about your favourite gardening website - click 'Tell a friend' below. bestgardening.com Especially for New Zealand gardeners - much, much more than a website. List For Free Remember, you can list your event or garden club for free. Contact us at bestgardening.com * Back to Top * How-To * Garden Hub * A to Z Index * Events * Gardens Open * Plants * Garden Design * Copyright 2000-2008 bestgardening.com Limited. All rights reserved. webmaster@bestgardening.com Last revised 5 May 2012